Spring wheel



E. W. RIEBETH.

SPRING WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 1, 1920.

` Patented Apr. 4, 1922.

/lL/Ba AWM/Wsw PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN W. REBETH, OF BILLINGS, MONTANA.

SEEING WHEEL.

Specieation'of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 7, 1920. Serial No. 408,444.

T 0 all ywhomz'zf may concern:

Be it known that i, EDWIN W linnn'rii, a citizen oi 'the United States, residing in Billings, inthe county ot' Yellowstone and State of ifi/lontana, have invented a new and use't'ul Spring` Wheel, of .vhich the Yfollowing is a speciication My invention relates to improvements in spring 'wheels and more particularly to that class in which a spring tread is employed as distinguished trom those in which the spring is applied to the spokes or to thehub ot the wheel. rEhe primary object ot my invention is the production ot a spring wheel having a maximum resiliency accompanied by maximum simplicity, inenpensiveness and durability. liurther objects and advantages will be more'fully Jforth in the Afollowing specification. w

In the accompanying draivings forming part of this speciication: Figure l is a side elevation partly in section of part ot a wheel showing the spring tread elements in place on the rim and their position 'when not sustaining weifjht oli wheel or load; Fig. 2 is a plan ot a portion ot the structure shown in,

Fig. l, showing the tread faces which are to run on the ground part ot the structure being' shown in section; Fig'.r 3 .is a plan of one of the right or lett hand spring tread elements detached `trom the wheel. looking directly at the tread tace; Fig. is a plan ot one of the other companion spring tread elements also looking at the tread tace; Fig.

5 is a side elevation o'ii the spring tread elel ment shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a plan of one of the spring tread elements looking` directly at the base side, that Ais at the side opposite the tread; Fig. 7 is a side elevation ot an alternative construction ot spring member it being contemplated that various changes in design and conliguration within the spirit ot my invention may be made; Fig. 8 is a plan ot the plate before it is bent into the spring' treadmember shown in Fig. 5 and Fig. 9 is a section taken on the line '9-9 ot Fig. l, and Fig-l() is a plan oll the spring tread member shown in Fig; 7, look- .ing directly at the tread tace. y

My invention is applicable to a wheel ot any suitable construction, one type A being shown in Figfl having a solid telly B, and a hollow demountable rim C, to which my improved spring tread elements D are to be attached. Two complete circumferential series ot tread elements'D, situated closely but freely adjacent, are arranged on the wheel. Eachy spring element D isl made out or" a single piece of thin nietal or other suitable material, formed with a broad, strong and tread l0 of rectangular or other suitable shape,` folded backwardly at ll circumferentially oil" the wheel and curved radially inwardly and forwardly at the inner end of the fold and near the center of the tread to produce a strong and rigid supporting shank l2. The inner end of this shank is bent backwardly at 13 and yformed with a long narrow spring support ifi, which is rigidly secured against the inner surface oi' the rim C of the wheel. The support lli performs the functions ot a spring' while the tread l0, shank l2 and portion of support lll; which is securedto the rimC are preferably rigid. The shank l2 being struck from thetold near the center of the tread distributes its supporting tendency evenly over the tread which is an advantage. The total width of the tread 'faces oiA two adjacent companion tread elements is less than the width of the rim but the width may be increased when desired to give greater supporting area and traction. The two spring treads of each longitudinal pair ot' elements are made right and lei't hand, the shanks being narrower than the treads to allow a passing unit to function freely and to distribute the tread faces evenly. Openings 16 of sufficient size through the periphery of the hollow rim are provided through which the shanks l2 et the spring elements are flreetomove 1nwardly and outwardly, These are two longitudinal series otthese openings lo'situated side by side. As shown clearly in' Fig. 2, the shank l2 of one tread of a series is disposed near the center of the rim whilethe next succeeding shank of a tread, of the saine series-is lc lisposed near a side oi? the rim. 'Vhile two longitudinalseries ot openings'l are shown, a single'series may obviously be made of ample dimensions to accommodate the shanksoii both series of treads. The shank ot each spring-tread being disposed with a flat side down and extending longitudinally along the rim produces a maximum `lateral supportto withstand lateral thrusts without straining andy breaking. The supporting elements 14 of the spring treads arelsecured to the hollow rim by rivets 17, although it will be understood that any other suitableV means may be employed for that purpose, bolts being more Patented Apr'. 4, 1922.

readl detachable. The hollow rim may resem le a circular housing or shell of any suitable construction and may be detachably secured over the solid felly by means of bolts 18 or other suitable means. Thus it will be observed the rim element C, with the tread elements mounted thereon, can be easily and quickly demounted from the wheel or adjusted thereon. Y

It will be noted that the tread elements are of normal, equal height and that a broad continuous resilient surface is produced. Only sufficient freedom is provided so that the tread elements pass one another on the rim of the wheel in such a manner that they are enabled to fully function without interference from one another. Eachspring is free to bend to its full depth, due to its shape and answers as well the purpose of helpin to make a continuous and full tread. This` s ape also makes it possible to get spring action of greater length and avoids the extremey lateral action and consequent unsatisfactory results which take lace with the use of shorter springs. In ot er words my invention enables the tread surfaces to be set closer than in prior devices while at the same time providing a continuous or full tread, substantially direct spring action and greater freedom of action, avoiding what might be termed end thrust of the springs. In prior devices tread elements have been employed which are either set apart with a wide gap to alloy.v freedom of action, thereby making an incomplete tread, or the tread velements overlap each other to make a complete but uneven tread and do not have freedom of action.

By placing the spring supports on the inner surface ofthe rim and arranging their shanks side by side through the rim, the wide circumferentially arranged treads have perfect freedom of action with no chance of 'interfering The construction is also eXf tremely simple and inexpensive and not likely to get 'out of order. The long spring leaf support and short rigid shank and rigid tread also Vare lvery efficient for the purposes intended. The feature of having the Shanks pass through the rim assists in preventing mud and dirt from clogging the springs and reducing the efficiency of the spring tread elements, and the demountable rim feature facilitates repairing any broken parts or exchanging different styles or designs of treads constructed in accordance with my invention.

In Fig. 7 a modified construction of tread element is shown in which the shank is bent directly and radially inwardly of the wheel and formed at its inner end with a long spring support 2l at substantially right angles to the rigid radial portion 22. The tread face 23 on the outer end of the radial portion 22 also'has an inturned end support 24. In this construction the spring element also has freedom of action as in the preferred form.

The width and shape of the tread portions, Shanks, spring support and other portions of my spring elements may be varied within the scope of my invention without de arting from the spirit thereof.

aving described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In combination with awheel having a rim, a series of spring treads disposed cil'- cumferentially about said rim, each tread consisting of a thin plate formed with a broad and long longitudinal tread face folded backwardly to more evenly support said face bent inwardly from the inner end of the fold to produce a shank radiating outwardly of the wheel, and bent at the inner end of the shank to produce a longitudinal sprin support secured to said rim and means or securing said support on said rim, the tread faces of said spring treads being independently movable and substantially concentric of the wheel and arranged close together to produce an even and freely resilient circumferential tread on the wheel. y

2. In combination with a wheel having a rim, a series of spring treads disposed circumferentially about said rim, each tread consisting of a thin plate formed with a broad and long longitudinal tread face bent inwardly and inclined forwardly to produce a supporting shank and bent at the inner end of the shank to produce a longitudinal spring support, said shank passing through said rim and said support adapted to rest against the inner face of said rim and means for securing said support on said rim, the tread faces of saidtread elements being evenly distanced outwardly lfrom the vperiphery Vof the rim and arra ed closely adjoining to produce an even anmd freely resilient circumferential tread surface on the wheel.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a"

spring tread element adapted to be mounted upon and carried by the rim of a wheel, consisting of a plate forming a long and wide tread surface, folded back, bent inwardly from the fold below the middle portion of the tread to produce a shank and bent longitudinally at the end of the shank farthest away from the tread element to produce a resilient supporting member.

4. As a new article of manufacture, a spring tread element adapted to be secured to the rim of a wheel, consisting of a plate forming a long and wide tread body forin-V ing an even tread surface throughout its area onsaid rim, said plate being folded inwardly at one end and bent away from the plate and forwardly at the inner-end of the fold to produce a supporting shank for the tread body and the end of said shank tarthest away from the plate being bent to pro duce a resilient support on the rim ot' the wheel.

5. As a new article of manufacture, a spring tread element adapted to be mounted upon and carried by the rim` of a wheel, consisting of a plate having a wide tread portion and a narrow shank portion at only one side of the tread portion.

In Combination with a wheel having a i'iin, two series of spring tread elements situated on said rim, each tread element of each series consisting of a plate having a narrow supporting portion secured to said rim and a wide tread portion, said spring tread elements being arranged in pairs side by side on said i'iin and said narrow supporting portions being in staggered arrangement to faoilitate positioning the tread.

7. In Combination with a wheel having a rim7 said rim having a plurality of openings outwardly therethrough, two series of spring tread elements situated on said rim, each tread element of each series consisting of a plate having a long narrow spring leali' supporting portion secured within said rim7 a short rigid shank on a free end ot' said supporting portion passing freely through one ot said openings in said rim and a broad tread portion carried on the outer end of said shank, said narrow supporting portions being arranged in pairs side by sidey on said rim and the tread portions of each pair of supporting portions being arranged side by side.

8. In combination with a wheel having a rim, said rim having a plurality ot' openings outwardly therethrough, a plurality of tread elements on said rini each tread element consist-ing of a plate having a long narrow spring leaf supporting portion secured withing said rim a short rigid shank on the free end of said supporting portion passing freely through one of said openings in said rim and a broad tread portion carried on the outer end of said shank.

9. In combination with a wheel having a rim, said rim having a plurality of openings outwardly therethrough and a plurality of tread elements, each tread element having a tread portion outwardly from the rim, a spring support mounted within said rim and a shank connecting said spring support and tread portion, said shank passing freely through one of said openings.

l0. In combination with a wheel having a telly and a ring demou-ntably mounted on said elly, said rim having a plurality ot' openings outwardly therethrough, and a plurality ot tread elements each consisting of a plate having a spring supporting portion secured to the inner surface of said rim adjacent to one of said openings, a rigid shank on the outer end of said spring portion and passing freely through said adjacent opening, and a tread portion on the outer'end of said shank the tread portions on said Shanks being arranged cireuinferentially in Close series formation.

Initestiinony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

EDWIN YV. RIEBETH. 

